Genesis 20:2-12

Bible Text

[2] Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. [3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man's wife." [4] Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? [5] Didn't he tell me, 'She is my sister?' She, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this." [6] God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn't allow you to touch her. [7] Now therefore, restore the man's wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don't restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours." [8] Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. [9] Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!" [10] Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?" [11] Abraham said, "Because I thought, 'Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife's sake.' [12] Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

Gerar was a Philistine royal city in the southern coastal region, where Abraham sojourned and encountered Abimelech. Kadesh-barnea, the Negeb, and Shur describe the broad southern wilderness zone through which Abraham had traveled, explaining his status as a resident alien and the vulnerability that led him to conceal Sarah’s identity.

Places in this passage

Genesis 20:2-12 mentions Gerar, Kadesh-barnea, Negeb and Shur.

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